Another choice is to try to talk to the Prosecutor first - plead poverty, stupidity, etc etc - lots of 'Ja meneer, Nee meneer' ..... - This worked in the 'Old SA' - but I fortunately have not had reason to go and do this recently - so I don't know if it still works ?

I suspect that the officer wanted your false number plate for evidence - so he intends to see you in court - as you said, he was P!ssed. Best you avoid meeting him there if at all possible.

another way is to get the sabs mark off a legal plate, & find some really unscrupulous plate maker to incorporate it into your new plate..

my plate is way undersized. the plate maker was kind enough to put a SABS mark on it. As well as a non-existant dealer numberthey had no problem making it for me. As far as they are concerned I intend to use the plate as a bar decoration

With no plate on I bump into yesterday's Beyers Naude road block at the Cresta Mall enroute to Full Throttle. I simply rode past the metro cop that signalled me to stop, turned left at the next street , right at the following and right into Full Throttles walled parking yard. Browsed around for 30 min and went home.

B.T.W.........FT is becomming expensive.

Ama, you always have the excuse that you never heard him telling you to stop....

Out of experience I know the judge would ask..."are you saying that you had no idea what a "stop" hand signal means?

Bt you thought he was just waving 'hello'................

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If you can keep your head in the midst of all this confusion, you don't understand the situation!

So, this morning on my way to a breakfast run, I stop at the garage to meet my friends. They tell me my plate is "up". I look, see that it is , fix it and then proceed for a cup of coffee before we set off.

But before I can get my helmet off I'm surrounded by about 4-5 metro officers who then inspect my plate, and then arrest me for "defeating the ends of justice".

They then ride my bike to the pound (with my helmet nogals!) because getting a trailer would cost me another R3k.

Anyways, 3 hours and lots of paperwork and sitting in smelly holding cells later, I got released on bail.

My bike will be at the impound till tomorrow and I have to appear in court on Tuesday.

Now I've been meaning to "fix" the flipper plate that's been on my bike but never got around to it. Now I really really wish I had.

Anyone know what's the best way to handle this? The metro cop wrote a two page report which I didn't get to see, but I think he also accused me of reckless riding and speeding, cuase he saw me filtering past 1 car to get to the front of the robot before turning into the garage.

Is defeating the ends of justice considered a criminal offence?? Can I not plead guilty to a lesser offence? How does this work?

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Thakns for the advice guys.

Went to pick the bike up this morning. R120 impound fees to pay. Bike seems fine. I enquired about towing and strange enough the fees for towing would have been R395. Not R3000 like the officers told me.... I smell a rat.

Went to see the prosecutor. He seems to think it warrants only a traffic fine and not a court hearing, but said he cannot comment until he has read the officers docket and gets his side of the story. The case is tomorrow and the docket will only be sent to the prosecutor then. So I have to go there tomorrow.

Went to the police station where I was held and they say that I cannot read the docket. So I cannot see what I'm being accused off?? They say it's priviledged and only for my lawers eyes. ? I know the officer probably wrote that I was riding wrecklessly etc. Cause just arresting me for the plate would probably seem too trivial? Now he had about 4 other metro cops there who would probably stand witness to his version of events. This is kinda messed up.

Also strange to me is that while I was there in the south, I saw quite a few bikes with no plates. I got to that area 1 day with a semi-legal plate and get arrested.

That "alternate charge" box, surely its fine 1 and 2 or 3 it is ticked?

Just wondering because I have R500 and R300 and R200 but the box is ticked.

Sorry Kamanya, but this is worse than just a R300 fine : - Charge no. 1 is for the no SABS - R300- Charge no. 2 if for displaying a false number plate : No A.G. (Admission of guilt) - ie. you must go to court

The second charge is not an alternate charge, it is an additional charge......

Sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings ......Tony

Faarrrrk!

Havenít been following this thread. This is a bit of a fright.

Will have to go talk to the prosecutor sharpish.

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I wonder where that gravel road goes? And that, has usually made all the difference. (Apologies to Mr Frost)

That "alternate charge" box, surely its fine 1 and 2 or 3 it is ticked?

Just wondering because I have R500 and R300 and R200 but the box is ticked.

Sorry Kamanya, but this is worse than just a R300 fine : - Charge no. 1 is for the no SABS - R300- Charge no. 2 if for displaying a false number plate : No A.G. (Admission of guilt) - ie. you must go to court

The second charge is not an alternate charge, it is an additional charge......

I need this type of advice, I have a notification that a court summons is on the way, I was clocked at 123km/h in an 80km/h zone, farking highway modifications..... It was Peaches' car, but I was driving....

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If you can keep your head in the midst of all this confusion, you don't understand the situation!